Index



(No Model.)

F. P. SWEITZER.

- INDEX.

N0. 519,622. Patented May 8, 1894.

' UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. SWEITZER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,622, dated May 8, 1894.

' App i at n fil January 26, 1894. erial'No. 4:98.086- (No model.)

panies, &c.,where it is necessary to keep books containing a large number of names and addresses, and where a large amount of correspondence is done, it is a consideration of material importance to provide an index which will facilitate the dispatch of business, and will render it easy to ascertain theaddress of any particular person, or the names, of the members composing any particular firm or corporation with which correspondence is had or business is transacted without loss of time and 1n a manner easily understood.

To this end is the present invention direct ed, and it consists in the details and arrange-- ments hereinafter more particularly described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference numerals appearing thereon, and whereon similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout.

Figure 1 represents an index book, constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention opened at the letter M and showing the supplementary alphabetical arrangement from A to K. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating my invention, one page of the supplementary alphabetical arrangement removed from that shown in Fig. 1. Reference numeral 1 represents an index book of any desired size,number of pages or.

style of ruling as may be desired; This book may be provided with the ordinary tabs 2, which project from the front or outer edge of the leaves thereof as distinguished from the top or bottom edge of said leaves; and which may be provided with a single'or double letters, or any combination of letters as may be desired. In the arrangement shown, I have illustrated said tabs as having only single letters but it is evident that any number. of letters or combinations thereof may be em ployed on said tabs as will be evident.

.spirit and scope of my invention.

3 represents the sub-combinations under each letter also arranged on the outer marginof the leaves. For instance in the case shown in the drawings, the index book is shown open at the letter M of the projecting tabs, thus revealing an example of the various sub-combinations under this letter with 'which it might be desirable to provide theincombination of letters shown in the drawings,

as it is obvious that any variation therein maybe made without departing from th Reference numeral l represents the supplementary index or alphabetical arrangement under each marginal letter or combination of letters. This supplementary alphabetical arrangement is provided for the purpose ofen- ,tering in its proper place any particular name and also the residence, or else entering in its proper place the names of the members composingany particular firm, corporation orbusiness body, or for any other use for which it may be adapted. To illustrate, suppose it is desired to enter thename and residence ofa person thefirst three letters of whose surname fall within the range of Maa-Man, and who resides in Chicago, the book is opened at the tab letter M, as shown in the drawings and the particular combination desired is revealed at once in the sample illustrated in the drawings, and the name sought'to be entered is entered under the alphabeticalletterC in the supplemental or alphabetical arrangement referred to, and so on for anyother name. In like manner if it is desired to find the name the first The'pres three letters of which fall within the range before suggested. by way of illustration, and'who resides in Chicago, the same operation is persearch made at the letter C of the supplemental alphabetical arrangement under the particular combination desired. A similar operation is performed when it is desired to use the book for indexing the names of a firmf For instance, take the firm of Madden & Doe, this would be indexed under the letter D of the supplemental alphabetical arrangement under the marginal letters Maa to Man of the tab-letter M. It is obvious that any number of pages of the supplemental alphabetical arrangement may be provided under each partlcular marginal combination and while I have shown four such pages, I wish it to be distinctly understood thatI do not limit myself to that or any other number. Nor do I limit myself to the particular arrangement or spacing of the supplemental alphabetically arranged letters as many variations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Reference numeral 5 represents a marginahthumb index to the supplemental alphabetical arrangement. This supplemental index is formed in the outer margin of the leaf by continuing the cut away portion made necessary in order to reveal the underlying marginal letter combinations under the tab letters, to a point near the bottom of the page. As many of these sub indexes are provided as are sheets of the supplementary alphabetical arrangement. The first sheet of the alphabetical arrangement under each marginal combination 3, is cut away to a point nearer the lower edge of the sheet than the next succeeding sheet and so on throughout the total number of sheets employed in the alphabetical arrangement. The purpose of this is that the marginal or thumb index of each pagerof the alphabetical arrangement may not be hidden by the immediately preceding sheet under the same marginal comblnation of the tab-letter. This sub index also greatly facilitates and expedites reference to any particular letter of the supplementary alphabetical arrangement, after the particular marginal combination is obtained. This sublndexing being located near the lower edge or below the cut away portion made necessary in each sheet to reveal the underlying marginal combinations, makes it handy for the thumb of the person who desires to use the index, and I consider this a most important feature of my invention. It will thus be seen that I provide the tab index, the subcombinations under each tab letter, and the index to the supplementary index under each sub-combination, all in the outer margin of the leaf. By this arrangement it is unnecessary to remove the right hand, or the left hand in case the index is arranged left-handed, in order to open the index at any desired point. hand or the right hand, as the case may be in order to find any particular name.

While I have described and illustrated my invention as applied to the right hand marginal edge of the page, it is also evident that the same is equally applicable to a left hand arrangement and I do not desire to be restricted in this respect to the particular form and arrangement shown.

I have described my arrangement of a supplementary alphabet as applied to indexing residences or individual names of firms, 850., but it is evident that the same arrangement may be employed for many other purposes as for instance for indexing with reference to the initials of the Christian name. Having thus described my invention and explained its mode of operation, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In an index the combination of tab letters projecting from the edge of the pages, mar ginal combinations under each tab, the on ter marginal edge of each sheet being cut away so as to make provision therefor, and at the same time to reveal all the underlying marginal combinations under the same tab, asupplementary or auxiliary alphabet under each marginal combination, a marginal or thumb index to said auxiliary alphabet formed near the bottom of the sheet on the outer edge thereof by continuing the said marginal cut away portion of the sheet below the last marginal combination of that tab to a point Where it will expose each underlying auxiliary marginal index; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK P. SWEITZER.

Witnesses:

J. LAWRENCE GERRY, HARRY WHITE.

Nor is it necessary to employ the left I 

